Inventions are all around us and we will all use many different ones eve-

ry day! An invention can be a new device or an improvement on some-

thing that already exists. Inventions are often created when someone is

faced with a problem that needs solving, or they are sometimes created

by accident!

Inventors need CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY and DETERMINATION- we can’t

wait to see what you come up with this week!

If you’re not quite sure what inventors do have a look at these

BBC Class clips which explain who they are and what they do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/design-and-technology-ks2-what-is-an-invention/

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Explore the DK site to find out about inventions that changed the world.

Which do you think are the best? Are there any you think we could live with-

out? Take the quiz on the site to test your knowledge of the inventions.

https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/science/amazing-inventions/

Nina and the Neurons on Cbeebies has lots of science, building and engineering games

to inspire you. https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/nina-and-the-neurons

Check out some of Wallace’s Cracking Contraptions!—

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSD4QfyS1DxXVYgPkEajIjBak1UkPSpjx

Which is your favourite invention of Wallace’s? Have a go at design-

ing your own invention. How does it help you solve a problem?

Could you invent a device to help during lockdown? Draw

and explain how your design will work.

Take a household object and turn it into something else.

How have you changed it's purpose? Most inventors start with a

problem and think of a solution. Have you improved on the origi-

nal design or invented something entirely new?

Think carefully about something you wish existed. Create a

design and explanation about why it is needed in the world

today. Present your ideas and reasons to your family using

a Dragon's Den style pitching.

Are they willing to invest in your idea?

You could make a model of your invention using junk modelling too.

Invent a new board game and play it with

your family—it could even be based around

famous inventions!

Create a new outdoor game

to play outside or in a park.

Design and create a marble run

using paper plates.

Did you know Leonardo Da Vinci was not just an amazing

artist, but also an inventor too? Some of the things he designed

he could not make during his time but these were created in

the future, such as the parachute and helicopter!

Check out some of the things he invented 500 years ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwOlIGGDVjE

Why not have a go at inventing something that couldn’t be made to-

day, but could perhaps be created 500 years in the future?!

Invent and create a new meal or food… or just try some of the newly invented ones!

Some recent food inventions include...cauliflower based pizza, cronuts—croissants in a

doughnut shape and chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick!

Chindogu! Chindogu are inventions that defy clear explanation. They aren't useful, but they aren't com-

pletely useless either. Their creator, Kenji Kawakami, describes them as "un-useless."

Look at some Chindogu inventions. Which is the silliest? Can you design your own chindogu

invention? Make sure it is not completely useless...but not very useful too! Can you make it

with junk that you can find, or by putting different household items together?

The butter stick is the most well-known

chindogu. Maybe because it's the one

people could actually see themselves us-

ing (almost). When you don't have a

knife or the time to butter toast, the But-

ter Stick is there for you.

There are many more Chindogu inventions

to explore. Which is your favourite and

what new Chindogu will you invent?

https://www.littleinventors.org/ideas/

Little Inventors is a great site to get ideas and look at other children’s inventions. There are

also different competitions you can enter where you can send your inventions in.

Other useful links to sites

https://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/InventSomething.pdf—Inventing Inspired by Lemony Snicket’s

A Series of Unfortunate Events

https://www.startwithabook.org/content/pdfs/RobotsWork.pdf - Robots at work inventing ideas

https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/projects/stringphone.html—How to make a string telephone

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/17490881335 - Invent a Thaumatrope

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/balloon-car-race-diy-engineering-activity-kids - Design a balloon car

Children’s inventions made real…!